Is Freemasonry legal in Turkey?

After the proclamation of the Turkish Republic in 1923, this national freemasonry continued to flourish, except for 13 years between 1935 and 1948 when Masonic activity was banned.

Was Sultan Murad a Mason?

Murad was the first member of the Ottoman dynasty to become a member of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Turkey. On 20 October 1872, Murad was secretly inducted into the lodge, sponsored by his chamberlain Seyyid Bey.

Is there a Grand Lodge of Freemasonry in Turkey?

Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Turkey. The Grand Lodge of Turkey ( Turkish: Hür ve Kabul Edilmiş Masonlar Büyük Locası) is the largest of several Masonic Grand Lodges overseeing Freemasonry in Turkey. It was founded in 1948 and consists of 180 Lodges in cities around Turkey. As of 2001 it had an estimated 12,000 members.

How often do Freemasons get summer recess in Turkey?

With the exception of Lodges situated at the Aegean and Mediterranean coastal towns, two to three months summer recess is customary. The Grand Lodge of Liberal Freemasons of Turkey (Turkish: Özgür Masonlar Büyük Locası) was established in 1966 after a split from the Grand Lodge and follows the Continental Style of Freemasonry.

What is the history of masonry in Turkey?

Sources on the subject speak of five phases of Masonry in Turkey, the first of these being the period before 1909. A number of lodges were founded during the Ottoman Empire, but could not get properly organized, since Sultan Abdulhamidsystematically prevented this.

What happened to the archives of lodges in Turkey?

Note: The archives of lodges in Turkey, prior to the foundation of the Grand Lodge in 1909, were in the hands of foreign obediences. These documents were lost due to wars, persecution, fires etc.